Fri. June 15 -- Partake of hip-pocket soul and jamjackery from Ornette cornetist Bobby Bradford's Mo'tet. At LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., LA 90036; 6-8pm; FREE; Friday summer jazz schedule here.
Fri. June 15 -- A natural and inspired improvisational pairing: circular-breathing saxist Phillip Greenlief with electro-looping guitarist G.E. Stinson. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Fri. June 15 -- Saxist Vincent Herring made a name in the '90s with his swinging postbop; his seasoned band includes pianist David Kikoski, bassist Yasushi Nakamura and drummer Carl Allen. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $25; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Fri. June 15 -- Jeff Kollman Explosion beefs the rockier side of fusion with Glenn Hughes/Meatbats guitarist Kollman plus keyboardist Tom Brooks, bassist Pete Griffin and drummer Andy Sanesi. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Fri.-Sat. June 15-16 -- Squeeze between the keys with the microtonal ensemble Partch, playing a dance piece by Harry Partch and music by Ben Johnson. Lyris Quartet augments. At REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., downtown 90012; 8:30pm; $25 (students $20); www.redcat.org.
Mon. June 18 -- Make some elbow room when surf instrumental maniacs Double Naught Spy Car tear through your mind. With Leland. At the Dresden Room, 1760 Vermont Ave., Los Feliz 90027; 8pm; no cover; (323) 665-4294.
Mon.-Tues. June 18-19 -- Drummer Dan Weiss' Starebaby (formerly Metal Jazz Quintet) celebrate the release of their loud, lurching and sometimes Zappatistic debut album, which exploits the high-intellect talents of keyboardist Craig Taborn, keyboardist Matt Mitchell, guitarist Ben Monder and bassist Trevor Dunn. At the Blue Whale on the third level of Weller Court Plaza, south of East First Street between South Los Angeles Street and South San Pedro Street, Little Tokyo 90012; 9pm-midnight; $20; 21+; parking $9 underneath off Second Street at the sign of the P in a circle; (213) 620-0908; www.bluewhalemusic.com.
Wed. June 20 -- Multibrained drummer Virgil Donati leads a fusoid trio with guitarist Andre Nieri and bassist Junior Brauinha. At the Baked Potato, 3787 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Studio City 91604; 9:30 & 11:30pm; $25; (818) 980-1615; www.thebakedpotato.com.
Thurs. June 21 -- It's not just my imagination, Denver doom unit Spectral Voice is in town. With Mortiferum, Superstition, Kommand. At Resident, 428 S. Hewitt St., downtown 90013; 8pm; $15; www.residentdtla.com.
Thurs. June 21 -- Drummer Bert Karl forms a trippin' trio with windman Vince Meghrouni and guitarist Anthony Cossa. At The Battery Books & Music, 26 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena 91101; 8pm; $5 suggested donation; (626) 376-9913.
Thurs. June 21 -- Two trombonists with fearsome ears, Joey Sellers & Ryan Dragon, hold vigorous colloquy. Brad Dutz's new series at Sunspace, 9683 Sunland Blvd., Shadow Hills 91040; 8pm; $10.
Thurs. June 21 -- Unwrinkled Ear unites improvisers from all over the country: pianist Paul Giallorenzo, cellist Lori Goldston, trumpeter Jacob Wick and drummer Dane Rousay. At Avenue 50 Studio, 131 N. Ave. 50, Highland Park 90042; 9pm; $10.
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Read Don Heckman’s jazz picks here. Read John Payne's plutonic Bluefat.com here. Read Brick Wahl's noirish music commentaries here.